How to prepare your restaurant for Valentine's Day crowds amid COVID-19

Personalization, limited menus and social media engagement can be a recipe for success despite labor struggles on this high-traffic day, writes Jennifer Simmons, director of marketing at Restaurant365.

By Jennifer Simmons • Feb. 9, 2022

Brinker plans more off-premise-only kitchens, virtual brand expansion

The chain opened an off-premise kitchen in Manhattan last month and plans to open similar units near universities in Dallas and Columbus, Ohio, CEO Wyman Roberts said during the company's Q2 earnings call. 

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 4, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Back-of-house Technology

From AI-enhanced inventory management systems and analytics to robot-powered kitchen equipment, restaurants are investing in technology solutions to optimize kitchen operations and reduce employee turnover. 

By Restaurant Dive staff

Jimmy John's opens its first drive-thru-only restaurant

The chain's new format includes a dual-sided drive-thru with a designated pickup lane for mobile and online orders, as well as carryout lockers.

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 3, 2022

Kitchen United teams with Simon Property Group to bring off-premise eating to malls

The ghost kitchen's "Grab Go Eat" concept lets diners order from mall restaurants for on-premise pickup, delivery to tables or stores and off-premise takeaway, CEO Michael Montagano said.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 3, 2022

Wingstop opens digital-focused prototype with no seating

The Dallas store will function as an innovation lab for new restaurant configurations and equipment as the chain pursues 100% digital transactions. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 3, 2022

Rise of the robots: How restaurants can automate without losing the human touch

Instead of adopting technology to replace human beings, employers should embrace digital tools that make jobs more satisfying, writes Raju Malhotra, chief product and technology officer at PAR Technology Corporation.

By Raju Malhotra • Feb. 2, 2022

Panera diners can now order at the table through mobile app

The digital dine-in feature lets diners skip lines for cashiers and kiosks and may save employees time, Chief Digital Officer George Hanson said.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 1, 2022

Digital-first diners are driving the rise of collaborative commerce

Collaborative commerce immerses customers in the dining experience and makes them active participants in shaping the operational experience, writes futurist Brian Solis.

By Brian Solis • Jan. 27, 2022

Pret a Manger settles Illinois suit challenging use of fingerprints for timekeeping

State law strictly limits employers' use of biometric technology.

By Kate Tornone • Jan. 26, 2022

7-Eleven introduces subscription delivery service

For $5.95 a month, shoppers can get items, including hot food and drinks, delivered by the convenience store in about 30 minutes.

By Kaarin Moore , Emma Liem Beckett • Jan. 25, 2022

How to navigate an evolving restaurant environment

How restaurants can adjust their approach to optimize their sales and profit potential going forward.

Jan. 24, 2022

Delivery firms are offering more flexibility to retain partners. Will it work?

Major aggregators are rolling out white labels, subscription programs and new data tools to keep partner restaurants and delivery customers as more diners order from operators directly. 

By Julie Littman • Jan. 19, 2022

IRC warns sales are falling, debt is rising for independent restaurants

Forty-two percent of restaurants that didn't receive Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants risk filing for or have filed for bankruptcy, a survey by the Independent Restaurant Coalition finds.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 18, 2022

Can restaurant marketers get digital right while facing panoply of pressures?

Amid labor, supply chain and inflationary issues, 2022 will be a year of increased pressure to deliver on fronts that span media, ordering and loyalty.

By Chris Kelly • Jan. 18, 2022

Instacart launches Ready Meals Hub

Like Instacart's convenience delivery offering, Ready Meals adds another service that addresses cross-channel challengers — in this case, restaurants.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Jan. 14, 2022

Reef signs expansion deal with Denny's amid closure of 95 units

Reef considers these units, which temporarily shuttered on Jan. 7, to be "underperforming," Business Insider reports. The company said these units are being revamped to service partner brands. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Updated Jan. 13, 2022

C3 snags Uber Eats' former ghost kitchen chief

Pasha Mehran joins as chief strategy officer, overseeing collaborations with celebrity chef-driven restaurants and ghost kitchen partners, as well as expansion into suburban markets. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Jan. 12, 2022

Sustained delivery profitability may hinge on business beyond restaurants

While eateries remain their core businesses, third-party aggregators are adding new verticals, like retail and grocery, and services to diversify.

By Julie Littman • Jan. 12, 2022

Dickey's opens its fourth virtual brand, Trailer Birds Hot Chicken

The chain entered the virtual space with Wing Boss in April 2021 and followed up with the launch of Big Deal Burger and Barbecue at Home.

By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 11, 2022

Checkers & Rally's to deploy AI tech at corporate-owned drive-thrus

The chain's rollout of Presto's artificial intelligence-based voice assistant will mark one of the widest deployments of such a solution by a QSR.

By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 10, 2022

4 ways to maximize restaurant staff with limited resources

Tips and best practices for hiring new employees to cross-training and retaining valuable staff.

Jan. 10, 2022

Why convenience retailers are gearing up to win in foodservice

As vehicles go electric, stores will increasingly turn away from fuel pumps and toward innovative meals and snacks, writes retail analyst Frank Beard.

By Frank Beard • Jan. 7, 2022

Chipotle, KFC and Donatos ring in 2022 with plant-based launches

Two out of the three products are only limited-time offerings, but come as the plant-based meat market is expected to grow more than 20% per year through 2028. 

By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 6, 2022

Waitr partners with Virtual Dining Concepts

The third-party delivery firm could soon offer brands like MrBeast Burger, Mariah's Cookies and Barstool Bites on its app, and will allow restaurant partners to add VDC's virtual brands to their operations. 

By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 5, 2022

Survey: Employers turn to bonuses for critical, hard-to-fill roles

"Only 2% of organizations offer a higher referral bonus for candidates from under-represented groups," according to WorldatWork, but more are considering the practice.

By Carla Bell • Dec. 21, 2021